Feb. 24, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Jacob Maekawa's run on a wild pitch thrown by Arizona reliever Tylor Megill handed the San Diego State baseball team a 3-2, 10-inning win in SDSU's opening game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy at Tony Gwynn Stadium Friday night. The Aztecs improve to 4-1 on the young season, while Arizona dips to 3-2 on the year.
Both the Aztecs and Wildcats posted a two-spot in the first inning, as the Aztecs fought out of a 2-0 deficit with a Chase Calabuig 2-RBI double scoring Julian Escobedo and David Hensley.
Offense was at a premium for the rest of the game, largely in thanks to a standout outing by senior Jacob Erickson, who logged a career-high seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work. Erickson took over for starter Logan Boyer in the fourth inning, and retired each of the first five Wildcats he faced via strikeout. The redshirt senior concluded his day with only two hits allowed while posting his longest outing since his freshman year.
Following Erickson was Adrian Mardueno and Jorge Fernandez, who each recorded scoreless outings. Mardueno retired each of the two batters he faced, including a pivotal strikeout to end the top of the eighth and leave a Wildcat runner stranded in scoring position.
Fernandez posted 1.2 innings to earn his first win of the season, allowing only one hit while striking out three. Combined, the Aztec pitching staff held Arizona to just a .125 average (1-for-8) with runners in scoring position.
To lead off the top of the 10th, Maekawa drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on an Escobedo sacrifice bunt. Hensley then advanced Maekawa to third on a groundout to second base, setting up for Maekawa to score on a game-ending wild pitch.
Team Notes
- San Diego State snapped an eight-game losing streak against Arizona and earned its first win against the Wildcats since 1999.
- SDSU pitchers registered 16 total strikeouts, the team's highest total since striking out 16 against UC Riverside on Feb. 20, 2015.
- San Diego State has won four of its last five extra-inning games.
- SDSU has won four consecutive games against Pac-12 opponents.
- The SDSU bullpen so far in the 2018 season: 1.01 ERA, 3-1 record, 26.2 innings pitched, 19 hits allowed, three earned runs, five walks, 32 strikeouts, .194 opponent batting average.
- In the first five games of the season, SDSU pitching has recorded three games with 13 or more strikeouts. The last time SDSU has posted 13 or more strikeouts in three games over a five-game span was April 24 - May 1, 2009. During that run, current MLB pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Addison Reed combined for 17 strikeouts in a 4-3 win against TCU on April 24, 2009.
- San Diego State is outhitting its opponents .285 - .190 through the first five games of the season. SDSU has a 1.53 team ERA on the season while tagging opposing pitchers for a 5.36 ERA.
- SDSU's 4-1 start to the 2018 season is the team's best start through five games since starting 2015 season 5-0.
- Seven of the 10 pitchers SDSU has used this season are averaging nine strikeouts per nine innings pitched or more.
Player Notes
Jacob Erickson: 4.2 IP, 0 R, 7 K, 0 BB, 2 H
- Set a new career-high with seven strikeouts.
- Matched his career-high in strikeouts against the first five batters he faced, striking out each of the first five batters he faced.
- Recorded his longest outing since making a 7-inning start as a freshman in the Mountain West tournament against New Mexico on May 23, 2015.
- Has held opponents scoreless in 25 of his last 35 outings.
Jacob Maekawa: 1-for-3, R, BB
- Scored game-winning run on wild pitch in the top of the 10th inning.
- Made Sportscenter's Top 10 at No. 3 with a diving play at second base in the top of the eighth inning.
Chase Calabuig: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
- Extended his hitting streak to 12 games and his on-base streak to 19 games. Also extended his on-base streak in home games to 24 games.
- Recorded his 22nd career game with multiple RBIs.
- Team is 17-6 in Calabuig's last 23 starts in right field.
David Hensley: 2-for-5, R
- Recorded his 44th career multi-hit game.
- Currently riding a five-game hitting streak, being one of two Aztec players (Calabuig) to have a hit in each of the first five games this season.
Jorge Fernandez: 1.2 IP, W, 3 K
- Struck out three of the six batters he faced.
- Has kept opponents scoreless in seven of his last 10 outings.
Up Next
SDSU baseball continues Tony Gwynn Legacy action tomorrow, Feb. 24 against No. 4-ranked Arkansas. RHP Harrison Pyatt (0-0, 4.15 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for SDSU, while RHP Isaiah Campbell (1-0, 2.25 ERA) is expected to take the ball for the Razorbacks.